trailing arm differences

[pitbull784]

I was wondering if there were any differences in trailing arm length between long and short beds

[cheyenne shortstep]

ALL trailing arms are equal in length and interchangeable.

[pitbull784]

thank you

[coggonobrien]

the only differance is between 1/2 and 3/4, 3/4 just had some extra sheet metal tacked to it.

[FL71C10]

Where do you get new bushings, and how hard are they to change?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Where do you get new bushings, and how hard are they to change?
Posted via Mobile Device

You can get the bushings at about any Chevy parts dealer. I got mine from Early Classic Enterprises (poly). As far as changing them out, the best way to get the old ones out is to burn them out. The new ones just push back in.

[ERASER5]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

You can get the bushings at about any Chevy parts dealer. I got mine from Early Classic Enterprises (poly). As far as changing them out, the best way to get the old ones out is to burn them out. The new ones just push back in.

I don't have an oxy torch, so I use the drill method. I drill into the rubber part with a 3/8" or 1/2" drill depending on what bushing. Several passes, side loading the drill many times. After a while most of the bushing will be in a pile of rubber chunks. Then go after the steel shell if there is one. There is less clean up, and no fire runs. ( I nearly lit up the garage when grinder sparks found some steel wool on the bench a few months ago. )

[tubbedII]

When doing new bushings on the arms, are a poly type better than rubber?

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

When doing new bushings on the arms, are a poly type better than rubber?

I think so. You get better performance out of the polys....

[cam.man67]

I just got a new set of trailing arms from Early Classics with rubber bushings. The way I understand it, rubber has more "give" and allows more flex in the rear. Good for comfort, maybe not so much for handling.

[tubbedII]

Sounds good. I ask because when going over some bumps at a decent speed, it feels as if the rear shimmy's a little. It's got the extended panhard bar on it, so I don't think the rear itself is shifting, but I was hoping poly bushings would help this.

[scrapmetalart]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

Sounds good. I ask because when going over some bumps at a decent speed, it feels as if the rear shimmy's a little. It's got the extended panhard bar on it, so I don't think the rear itself is shifting, but I was hoping poly bushings would help this.

do you have a front stabalizer bar (sway bar)? it will help eliminate some of that feel

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by scrapmetalart

do you have a front stabalizer bar (sway bar)? it will help eliminate some of that feel

Nope...I sure don't. It astonishes me that this is true though because it's definitely my tail end that shimmys. I do plan on a front bar in the future, but still waiting on what I decide for the lower ca's before I take that plunge.

[scrapmetalart]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

Nope...I sure don't. It astonishes me that this is true though because it's definitely my tail end that shimmys. I do plan on a front bar in the future, but still waiting on what I decide for the lower ca's before I take that plunge.

I just added a sway bar to the front of my 67 longbed & it definatley helped with that. It felt like the rearend side stepped after hitting bumps before. That stopped after I added the front bar. I put 1 1/4" in from a 1984.
Even with the stock used rubber bushings it is a HUGE improvement & my trailing arm bushings are stock & need replaced...

The sway bar was the best $50 I have spent lately for my truck.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by scrapmetalart

I just added a sway bar to the front of my 67 longbed & it definatley helped with that. It felt like the rearend side stepped after hitting bumps before. That stopped after I added the front bar. I put 1 1/4" in from a 1984.
Even with the stock used rubber bushings it is a HUGE improvement & my trailing arm bushings are stock & need replaced...
The sway bar was the best $50 I have spent lately for my truck.

Sway bar in front resolves about 80 % of the bump steer. When I added a sway bar in the rear and polyurethane bushings in the trailing arms it cured the rest. There is an optimum setting for an ECE super track bar and you will need to mess with it a bit before everything is just right.

[68GMCCustom]

for those with a big bench vise or their own press....but w/o a torch...I just put mine in the press and pressed the old bushings out of the shell...and then new ones back in.